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Dr. András Gelencsér, former Rector of the University of ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ, has received this year's Cholnoky Memorial Award. The award is presented by the City of Veszprém to local individuals who have made outstanding contributions to various fields of science. The laudatory speech was delivered by the professor's colleague, Mihály Pósfai, President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, who also has ties to Veszprém. He remarked that András Gelencsér has a way of speaking that makes us sit up and take notice. He addresses issues that are pressing for today's society and encourages us to look at the familiar world from a new perspective and reflect on it more deeply. ()

András Gelencsér graduated as a chemical engineer from the University of Veszprém in 1990. He subsequently began his academic career at the same institution, where he earned his PhD in Environmental Sciences in 1995. In 2002, he obtained the Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (DSc) degree. He is currently a professor at the University of ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ, where he served as Rector from 2015 to 2024. During his tenure, the university experienced significant development in its scientific and educational activities, as well as improvements in its position in national and international rankings.

His scientific career has focused on atmospheric aerosol research. He has achieved internationally outstanding results in several areas, including the study of tar balls formed during biomass burning, atmospheric humic substances, and carbonaceous aerosols. His research primarily investigates the sources of tiny particles suspended in the air, how they transform in the atmosphere, and what effects they have on the environment, human health, and the climate. An important characteristic of his career is that he has achieved most of his internationally recognised research results within his scientific research group in Veszprém.

His outstanding work has been recognised with numerous awards and distinctions. In 2014, he received the Officer's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit for his exceptional achievements in atmospheric chemistry. In recognition of his scientific work, he was awarded the Veszprém County Prima Primissima Award in 2016, the Academy Prize in 2017, and the Ottó Volkra Award in 2024.

Popularising science is a cause particularly close to his heart. He considers it important to present topics of public interest in a scientifically rigorous, accessible, and broad-minded manner. Through lectures, interviews, and podcasts, he regularly discusses air pollution, climate change, the dangers of biomass and waste burning, and the limitations of sustainability.

As President of the Veszprém Regional Committee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (VEAB), he plays an important role in community building and the organisation of scientific activities. His work at the head of VEAB helps to raise the visibility of the region's scientific and intellectual achievements, foster cooperation among researchers, educators, and research groups, and ensure that science remains an integral part of the region's cultural life and development.

Dr. András Gelencsér's career is exemplary in the sense that, as a scientist, he conducts research; as an educator, he passes on knowledge; as a leader, he builds communities; and as President of VEAB, he serves the interests of the wider scientific community.